Brendan Rodgers retained the majority of
his 4-3-3 lineup which lost 3-0 to WBA with Coates replacing the suspended
Agger. Downing, despite not playing in mid-week’s Europa match, remains on the
bench to make way for the 17-year-old Raheem. Man City reverted to the
semi-5-3-2 formation they tried in the Community Shield after surviving the 3-2
scare against newly-promoted Southampton last week. Kolo Toure, Kompany and
Zabaleta started as centrebacks with De Jong and Yaya Toure sitting in front of
them. Nasri, Tevez and Balotelli – getting the nod ahead of Dzeko once again –
roamed up front with Kolarov and Milner took care of the flanks.
It
was a slow start for the home side as but clearly the champion had little clues
to penetrate the crowded Liverpool half. Tevez’s diligence was their best hope.
As always, his runs behind defenders caused problems, notably having a swerving
low ball rolling across the goal line only to find his teammates thinking he
couldn’t have kept the ball in bounds. Rodgers’ men, however, slowly warmed up
and controlled the tempo. The midfield trio offered a combination of good work
rate and decent passing. Young Sterling was a highlight as his technique and
speed constantly embarrassed Kolo Toure. He could have claimed an assist if
Borini had not send his sweet cross between the City defenders wide of the
post.
 |
| Skrtel celebrated his goal that brought Liverpool the lead |
Skrtel gave Liverpool a deserved goal with a cannon header from
Gerrard's corner. It could have been 2-0 shortly after the break if Suarez had
better contact on Borini’s through ball in a fast break. Yaya Toure’s close
range strike following a cross from the omnipresent Tevez gave City hope but
minutes later when Rodwell, who came on for Nasri, handled Gerrard’s shot as he
slid in, Suarez swerved the 25-yardish free kick round the ball and in the
bottom corner of Joe Hart’s goal.
A mistake from Reina failing to get to
Tevez’s cross gave City a goal and a more detrimental error from goalscorer
Skrtel gave City a point. His back pass under pressure from the left back
position found Tevez who calmly rounded the keeper to level the scores with 10
minutes to go. The Kops put up a convincing display against the champion at home
as they seemed to have adapted to Rodgers’ philosophy of possession and
attacking football; yet there will be more food of thought for the manager, as
these mistakes will never go unpunished in the world’s best football league.
Man
of the Match: Carlos Tevez once again showed
Mancini who was the boss as the Italian manager needed to thank his outcast to
spare his blushes. The Argentine was literally all over the Liverpool half and
was the most reliable source of threat as City failed to conjure any magic in a
Silva-less lineup. His strength, pace and quick feet were all sorts of trouble,
especially the raw Kelly and Coates, and even though his presence was felt,
Liverpool did not sufficiently subdue him as the miniature forward was directly
involved in both City goals.
Flop
of the Match: Aleksandar Kolarov was never known
for his defending abilities, but more as a set-piece specialist. In a formation
which requires a player to take care of the whole flank, Kolarov was humbled by
his counterpart James Milner – in terms of stamina and work rate. The Serbian
was as clueless in attack as he was in defence, overlapping with either Nasri
or Zabaleta. Despite Borini not giving him much of a challenge, nor did Martin
Kelly who rarely overlapped, the space was not exploited to add an extra
dimension in City’s dull attack. It is interesting to know why Kolarov still
stands a fight against Clichy – who was not even on the bench – for the
starting leftback position.
What
if Dzeko started the match? Edin Dzeko will always
be wondering what he has to do to climb up the pecking order. He was always
Mancini’s emergency call for goals and he has rarely failed to deliver, notably
the final match of last season as well as last match against Southampton. His
aerial presence as well as his ability to score with both feet is an
exceptional quality for any centre forwards and he has already proved himself
in the Premier League last season. However, the return of outcasts Tevez and
Balotelli forced him to sit out on the bench. Tevez’s recent form is convincing
but it was a disappointing night for Super Mario. If Mancini continues to start
him instead of the Bosnian, Dzeko should really be looking to ply his trade
elsewhere, even if it means giving up on one of the sweetest paycheques he has
ever seen.
What
if Manchester City dumbed the 5-2-1-2 / 3-4-1-2 formation? It brought Mancini a win at in the Community Shield as well as a
draw today but it is definitely not a successful implementation. Using Zabaleta
who is not a natural centreback or a faulty Savic are already signs that
Mancini does not have the most basic requirement for such formation – 3 proper
reliable centrebacks. Athletic wing backs and a strong
target man are also crucial, but Kolarov and Balotelli could not deliver on
this particular night. A true tactician does not fit his players into an ideal
formation but instead devises an ideal formation with the players he has got.
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